Locking device



M. RIGAUD LOCKING DEVICE May 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. -19,V1956 INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEYS May 26, 1959 M. RlGAUD LOCKING DEVICE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1956 INVENTOR BY w ATTORNEYS MTRIGAUDLOCKING DEVICE May 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 19, 1956INVENTOR BY ahjg Q4, Mvm

ATTORNEYS M. RIGAUD LOCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR A'ITORNEY May 26, 1959 I M. RIGAUD 2,888,288

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W i /fl 0/ g iATTORNEYS United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE Maurice Rigaud, Paris,France, assignor to Societe des Agrafes Francaises & dArticle'sMetalliques (Societe Anonyme), Paris, France, a company of FranceApplication December 19, 1956, Serial No. 629,411

Claims priority, application France December 21, 1955 13 Claims. (Cl.292-46) This invention relates to locking devices and more particularlyto those devices in which jaws are carried by one of the two memberswhich are to be secured together, which jaws are adapted to close upon alock catch, stud, pin, or bar carried by the other of said members, whenthe latter comes into contact with said aws.

The present invention constitutes a novel development of the inventioncovered in my copending application Serial No. 489,998, filed February23, 1955.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedlocking device of this type, which device includes novel featuresrelated, among other things, to the nature of the contact of the jawswith the lock stud or pin, the means for locking jaws in closedposition, and the means for actuating and releasing the locking device.

The invention, in certain of its practical embodiments, contemplates theprovision 'of jaws having notches for seizing the stud or pin, whichnotches are so shaped that when said jaws close around the stud, theyexert upon the latter a force or reaction which tends to urge the studand the locking device toward each other. This arrangement displays manyadvantages; for example, when the device is used in connection withdoors such as re frigerator doors, which must usually be closed with acertain definite force upon a plastic buffer ring which assures thea-irtightness of the closure.

Another improvement, contemplated by the present invention, relates tothe application to the locking device of a ratchet feature which makesit possible to free the jaws without eifecting an opening of theclosure, which latter operation can only be accomplished when the'pinand jaws are separated.

This improvement is particularly suitable for the application of thelocking device to a part, such as the hood of an auomobile, which closesvertically, since the weight of the hood itself may close the lockingdevice or even prevent it from opening, it special precautions are nottaken. It may be applied equally well to situations where a plurality oflocking devices are used on a single object or part, whereby it is notnecessary to operate them simultaneously.

The following specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and disclosing only non-limiting examples of the invention,will make clear how the invention may be practiced; the particularsbrought out by the specification and the drawing being of courseincluded in the invention insofar as they are embraced in the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a schematic plan view of a locking device illustrating thefirst named novel improvement stated as an object of the invention, thejaws being represented as in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, in which the jaws are shown inopen position;

Figure 3 is an end view of the device shown in Figure l;

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic views upon an enlarged scale showing theaction of the jaws on the stud or pin;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a locking device illustrating the secondnamed improvement, which of course may be freely used in conjunctionwith the improvement illustrated in the earlier figures of drawing;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 6; v

Fgure 8 is a partial diagrammatic view showing the principal parts ofthe arrangement after the operating handle catches on the ratchetingdevice;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 with the locking device in openedposition;

Figure 10 is a view similar to- Figure 6 showing the bolt pullingfeature which may be common to all of those illustrated and alsoapplying a spring to the right-hand jaw element; and 1 Figure 11 is aview similar to Figure 9 of the lock shown in Figure 10.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1-5 inclusive, theprincipal basic parts of the locking device disclosed in myabove-mentioned copending application will be recognized, namely, thelock casing or supporting frame 1 which is provided with a notch 2 inone side thereof vto provide for the entry of the stud or pin 10, thejaws 5 and 6 which are pivotally secured'to the casing by means of thestub shafts 3 and 4. The locking of the jaws in closed position isensured by thelever 13, which carries a projecting roller 14a againstwhich the operative arm of a relatively powerful spring 14 presses, theother end of the spring with its coil being secured to the casing 1 asat 14'. The lever 13 is pivotally carried by the rearward projection 5aof the jaw 5, this pivotal attachment being afforded by the pin 5'.

A spring 7 coiled around a stud 7 projecting from the casing 1 has oneof its ends 7a abutting a portion of the spring 14 and its opposite end7b bearing against a projection 70 formed on the rearward portion 6a ofthe jaw 6, this spring 7 tending to urge the jaw 6 to open position asshown in Figure 2. The arm 13a of the lever 13 terminates in an inclinedcurved surface 13b and this inclined surface is adapted to bear againstthe corner 6b of the rearward projection 6a of the jaw 6 when all theparts are in locked position as shown in Figure 1.

The openingof the jaws is controlled by means of a handle 41 pivoted asat 41 to an extension of the lock casing, and terminating in a roller 42which comes to bear upon the inclined projection or flange 43 providedon the opposite end 130 of the lever 13. The spring 14 (Figure 1) actsupon the roller 14a of lever 13 in order to ensure a more gentle openingand closing of the locking device. The end of the handle 41 carrying theroller 42 is subjected to the action of the spring 44 which connects theroller carrying portion of the handle 41 with a projection 45 on thelock casing.

As shown in enlarged detail in Figures 4 and 5 of th drawings, thenotches 11 and 12 of the respective operative ends of the jaws 5 and 6are shaped so that, when the jaws are closed on the pin or stud 10, theytend to urge the pin and the latching device toward each other.

For this purpose, in the case of a pin of circular crosssection forexample, the inner parts 11a and 12a of the notches 11 and 12 have aradius of curvature which is greater than the radius of the pin 10, soasjto leave a certain amount of play between those portions and the pin,while the outer portions 11b and 12b terminate in elongated noseportions which press against the outer circumference of the pin atpoints approximately degrees apart.

Patented May 26, 1959 Thus the effort exerted by the lever 13 on theextremities 5a and 6a of the jaws is translated into reactions R (seeFigure 5) directed toward the main body of the device. Under thesecondition, if, for example, the pin is carried by the fixed member, theentire locking device and the member upon which it is carried tend tomove towards the pin, and naturally it would be just the reverse if thelocking device were on the fixed member and the pin on the movablemember or closure.

In order to ensure a sufficient margin of displacement between the pinand the locking device, the sloping or curved surface 13b (Figure 1) bywhich the lever 13 contacts and presses against the jaw 6 has apredetermined length, and is preferably curved inwardly. Thisarrangement at the same time ensures compensation for play which mightbe produced between the said parts.

During the opening of the lock, as indicated in Figure 4, the heels 11cand 12c of the notches 11 and 12 strike the pin and ensure that thedoor, or other closure with which the locking device is associated,begins to open in the same manner as described in my above-mentionedcopending application.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 69 inclusive is more particularlyintended to be employed when it is desired to provide a delayed openingof the locking device, which becomes of considerable interest, forexample, when the device is installed on an automobile hood which closesvertically, or where several locking devices are used in associationwith the same closure or other member.

In fact, in some previously mentioned modes of construction, the openingof the jaws is accompanied by a rebound which tends to separate the jawsfrom the pin.

If then the locking device were installed in connection with a hoodwhich closed vertically, the hood would be suddenly raised if the devicewere opened, and would fall back again thus reclosing it if noprecautions were taken to hold it up. In the case of a very heavy hood,the weight of the hood itself could even prevent the jaws from openingand it would be necessary to raise the hood while holding the lockingdevice open.

Likewise if, for instance, several locking devices were used to securethe same object or member, the initiation of the opening whichaccompanies the unclasping of the jaws might constitute an inconvenienceor disadvantage if all of the locking devices were not to functionsimultaneously. In order to obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages,the embodiment shown in Figures 6-9 inclusive is arranged so as toeffect the opening in two stages, that is, a first step during which thejaws are unlocked but do not separate, and a second step which consistsin the opening of the jaws themselves.

For this purpose, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lever 113connected to arm 105a of the jaw 105 has a ratchet part including anedge or flange 146 which cooperates with the resilient ratchet elementor catch 147 secured to the lock casing 101. In this embodiment thespring 7 associated with the jaws in the embodiment previouslydescribed, may be omitted. In the instant embodiment the lever 113 isprolonged to form a grip or handle portion 148 by which the opening ofthe lock may be controlled.

The operation of this device is as follows. The jaws 105 and 106 arenormally open as shown in Figure 9 and when the member to be locked ispressed down (for example a car hood), the pin 110 abuts against thelower nose portions 1110 and 112s of the notches 111 and 112 and causesthe jaws to close upon the pin. Lever 113, constrained by its spring 114(Figure 6) then moves so as to present the inclined surfaces 11317 infront of the arm 106a of the jaw 106. Thus the locking of the device isassured with the various parts then occupying the positions shown inFigure 6.

1f the handle 148 is pressed, the flange or edge 146 is ht intoengagement with the ratchet spring catch element 147 and the lever 113is disengaged from the jaw 106. The various parts of the locking devicethen occupy the position shown in Figure 8, in which position the jawsare freed, but the actual opening of the locking device has not yettaken place, since the force exerted by pin 110 upon the heel portions111s and 1120 of the notches is suflicient to prevent such opening.

To open the device completely, a force such as indicated at F in Figure9 must be exerted upon the pin 110, for example, by the raising of thehood or other closure with which the device is associated. Under theeffect of this force, the jaws separate and the rotation of the jawabout its axle 103, under the action of the spring 114 results in theledge or flange 146 sliding within and along the spring catch 147, whichdisengages the lever 113. The various parts of the locking device thenoccupy the position shown in Figure 9. The device is then, so to speak,re-armed, and it is only necessary to push down the hood in order tolock the mechanism.

The features shown in Figures 10 and 11 follow from the indicationalready given that the jaws of all of the embodiments may be configuredas illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, and these laterfigures illustrate an actual embodiment in which a spring 107 is appliedto the right-hand jaw as in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Thus in Figures 10 and 11 there is shown a lock assembly having themanipulative features of the embodiment already described in connectionwith Figures 6 and 9 of the drawings and these parts have been given thesame reference numerals as in those earlier figures, with the exceptionthat the spring acting upon the shank 106a of the jaw member 106 isshown at 107 in a similar fashion to the one illustrated at 7 in Figures1 and 2. The spring is pivoted on a post 107', and has a shank portion107a which abuts a stop 107a, and the extending arm 107b of the springpresses against a projection 107c on the shank 106a of the jaw member106.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made inthe embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. It isfurther understood that all compatible features of the embodiment shownin Figures 6 to 9 inclusive may be combined with those illustrated inFigures 1-5 of the drawings, and vice versa.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted to come into locking engagement, said device comprising, incombination, a supporting base member, a pair of oppositely disposed jawelements pivotally mounted on said base member and having opposedlocking arms adapted to move toward each other to lock such a studtherebetween and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart as saidlocking arms move toward each other, means tending normally to urge thelocking arms of the jaw elements apart toward stud-freeing positions, alever having a blocking portion, said lever being pivotally movable to ablocking position in which said blocking portion extends between saidno-locking arms and into wedging engagement with a portion of thenon-locking arm of one of the jaw elements to prevent the locking arm ofthe latter jaw element from disengaging the stud, means effectivecontinually upon said lever tending to pivot the latter toward its saidblocking position, and an operating handle associated with said leverfor moving the latter away from blocking position to permit the lockingdevice to open, said handle comprising a separate pivotally mountedmember having a manipulative portion and carrying a roller adapted tocontact with and urge said lever away from jaw-blocking position.

2. The locking device as set forth in claim 1 in which the lever ispivotally mounted at a point intermediate its length upon thenon-locking arm of one of said jaw elements, and said roller contacts aportion of the lever upon the opposite side of said pivot point from thejaw ann contacting portion.

3. Locking apparatus for use in urging two closure members together andretaining them against forces urging them apart, as in the case of aresiliently buffered refrigerator door and door jam, said apparatuscomprising a stud fixedly secured to one of said members and amanipulatable locking device fixedly secured to the other of saidmembers and adapted to be brought into locking engagement with saidstud; said locking device comprising a supporting base member; a pair ofoppositely disposed jaw elements pivotally mounted on said base memherfor swinging movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stud,and having opposed locking arms adapted to move toward each other duringsaid swinging movement in one direction to seize and retain said studtherebetween, and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart assaid locking arms move toward each other; means associated with at leastone of the jaw elements for normally urging the locking arm thereof awayfrom the locking arm of the other jaw element and thus towardstud-freeing position; a lever having a blocking portion thereon, saidlever being movably carried with respect to said supporting base member,and movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stud to ablocking position in which said wedging edge extends between,

said non-locking arms and into wedging engagement directly with aportion of the non-locking arm of one of the jaw elements to prevent thelocking arm of the latter jaw element from disengaging the stud, meanseffective continually upon said lever tending to move the latter towardits wedging and blocking position; said locking arms of the jaw elementshaving concave notches in the mutually facing surfaces thereof forseizing the stud, said notches being constructed and arranged withrespect to the cross-section of the stud as follows, so that when saidlocking arms are closed about the stud they exert upon the latter anaction which tends to urge the stud and the locking device together andthus urge the two closure members toward each other; the said notchesfor this purpose presenting in closed position about said stud a totalenclosed area which is greater than the crosssectional area of the stud,and the arms beyond the widest portion of the notches presentingmutually inwardly extending noses which press against the outwardportions of the periphery of said stud and urge the stud inwardly towardsaid locking device when the arrangement is in closed position; saidblocking portion of said lever comprising a long inclined edge of thelever which is outwardly convex in the direction toward the non-lockingarm of the jaw element, and is adapted to contact the said armtangentially and wedgingly urge it toward stud engaging position.

4. The locking device as set forth in claim 3 in which the lever ispivotally mounted upon the non-locking arm of the other of said jawelements.

5. A locking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted to come into locking engagement, said device comprising, incombination, a supporting base member, a pair of oppositely disposed jawele ments pivotally mounted on said base member and having opposedlocking arms adapted to move toward each other to lock such a studtherebetween and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart as saidlocking arms move toward each other, means tending normally to urge thelocking arms of the jaw elements apart toward stud-freeing positions, alever having a blocking portion, said lever being pivotally movable to ablocking position in which said blocking portion extends between saidnon-locking arms and into wedging engagement with a portion of thenon-locking arm of one of the jaw elements to prevent the locking arm ofthe latter jaw element from disengaging the stud, means effectivecontinually upon said lever tending to pivot the latter toward its saidblocking position, the said last named means comprising a spring elementhaving an arm extending therefrom, and a roller rotatably mounted onsaid lever against which said spring arm presses, thus affording gentleropening and closing of the device.

6. A locking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted to come into locking engagement, said device comprising, incombination, a supporting base member, a pair of oppositely disposed jawelements pivotally mounted on said base member and having opposedlocking arms adapted to move toward each other to lock such a studtherebetween and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart as saidlocking arms move toward each other, means tending normally to urge thelocking arms of the jaw elements apart toward studfreeing positions, alever having a blocking portion, said lever being pivotally movable to ablocking position in which said blocking portion extends between saidnonlocking arms and into wedging engagement with an integral part of thenon-locking arm of one of the jaw elements to prevent the locking arm ofthe latter jaw element from disengaging the stud, means efiectivecontinually upon said lever tending to pivot the latter toward its saidblocking position, the lever being pivotally mounted upon thenon-locking arm of the other of said jaw elements, and a ratchet-likedevice for said lever whereby it may be held in an intermediate positionwhere the blocking portion thereof is removed from contact with thenon-locking arm of said other jaw element but the jaw element to whichthe lever is pivoted is still held in releasable contact with the stud,the jaw elements thus being freed without opening.

7. The locking device as set forth in claim 6 in which the ratchet-likedevice comprises a projection carried by said lever, and a resilientratchet-like detent carried by the supporting base member and adapted tocatch on said projection.

8. The locking device as set forth in claim 6 in which the ratchet-likedevice comprises a flange of predetermined length carried by said lever,a resilient ratchetcatch carried by said supporting base, the length ofsaid catch being so related to that of said flange that, although theflange snaps into engagement with said catch when the lever is firstmoved to such intermediate position,

the flange is adapted to be slid from engagement with the catch uponswinging movement of said jaw element to which the lever is pivotallyconnected.

9. Locking apparatus for use in urging two closure members together andretaining them against forces urging them apart, as in the case of aresiliently buffered refrigerator door and door jamb, said apparatuscomprising a stud fixedly secured to one of said members and amanipulatable locking device fixedly secured to the other of saidmembers and adapted to be brought into locking engagement with saidstud; said locking device comprising a supporting base member; a pair ofoppositely disposed jaw elements pivotally mounted on said base memberfor swinging movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stud,and having opposed locking arms adapted to move toward each other duringsaid swinging movement in one direction to seize and retain said studtherebetween, and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart assaid locking arms move toward each other; means associated with at leastone of the jaw elements for normally urging the locking arm thereof awayfrom the locking arm of the other jaw element and thus towardstud-freeing position; a lever having an inclined wedging edge thereon,said lever being movably carried with respect to said supporting basemember, and movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stud toa blocking position in which said wedging edge extends between saidnon-locking arms and into wedging engagement directly with a portion ofthe non-locking arm of one of the jaw elements to prevent the lockingarm of the latter jaw element from disengaging the stud, means effectivecontinually upon said lever tending to move the latter toward its saidwedging and blocking position; and a manually operable handle associatedwith said lever for moving the latter away from blocking position topermit the locking device to open; said locking arms of the jaw elementshaving concave notches in the mutually facing surfaces thereof forseizing the stud, said notches being constructed and arranged withrespect to the cross-section of the stud as follows, so that when saidlocking arms are closed about the stud they exert upon the latter anaction which tends to urge the stud and the locking device together andthus urge the two closure members toward each other; the said notchesfor this purpose presenting in closed position about said stud a totalenclosed area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of thestud, and the arms beyond the widest portion of the notches presentingmutually inwardly extending noses which press against the outwardportions of the periphery of said stud and urge the stud inwardly towardsaid locking device when the arrangement is in closed position.

10. Locking apparatus for use in urging two closure members together andretaining them against forces urging them apart, as in the case of aresiliently buffered refrigerator door and door jamb, said apparatuscomprising a stud fixedly secured to one of said members and amanipulatable locking device fixedly secured to the other of saidmembers and adapted to be brought into locking engagement with saidstud; said locking device comprising a supporting base member; a pair ofoppositely disposed jaw elements pivotally mounted on said base memherfor swinging movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stud,and having opposed locking arms adapted to move toward each other duringsaid swinging movement in one direction to seize and retain said studtherebetween, and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart assaid locking arms move toward each other; means associated with at leastone of the jaw elements for normally urging the locking arm thereof awayfrom the locking arm of the other jaw element and thus towardstud-freeing position; a lever having an inclined wedging edge thereon,means for pivotally mounting said lever upon the non-locking arm of oneof said jaw elements, and movable pivotally in a plane perpendicular tothe axis of said stud to a blocking position in which said wedging edgeextends between said non-locking arms and into wedging engagementdirectly with a portion of the non-locking arm of the other of the jawelements to prevent the locking arm of the latter jaw element fromdisengaging the stud, means effective continually upon said levertending to swing the latter toward its said wedging and blockingposition and also urge the jaw element to which the lever is pivoted toopen position; and a manually operating handle associated with saidlever for moving the latter away from blocking position to permit thelocking device to open; said locking arms of the jaw elements havingconcave notches in the mutually facing surfaces thereof for seizing thestud, said notches being constructed and arranged with respect to thecross-section of the stud as follows, so that when said locking arms areclosed about the stud they exert upon the latter an action which tendsto urge the stud and the locking device together and thus urge the twoclosure members toward each other; the said notches presenting in closedposition about said stud a total enclosed area which is greater than thecross-sectional area of the stud, and the arms beyond the widest portionof the notches presenting mutually inwardly extending noses which arespaced from each other but press against two spaced outward portions ofthe periphery of said stud and urge the stud inwardly toward saidlocking device when the arrangement is in closed position, thecross-section of the stud being circular and the notches beingcircularly arm- 8 ate and having a radius of curvature greater than thatof said stud cross-section.

11. A locking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted to come into locking engagement, said device comprising, incombination, a supporting base member, a pair of oppositely disposed jawelements pivotally mounted on said base member and having opposedlocking arms adapted to move toward each other to lock such a studtherebetween and opposed non-locking arms arranged to move apart as saidlocking arms move toward each other, means tending normally to urge thelocking arms of the jaw elements apart toward stud-freeing positions, alever having a blocking portion, means for pivotally mounting said leverupon the non-locking arm of one of said jaw elements for movement in aplane parallel to the plane of movement of said jaw elements, said leverbeing pivotally movable to a blocking position in which said blockingportion extends between said nonlocking arms and into wedging engagementwith an integral part of the non-locking arm of the other of the jawelements to prevent the locking arm of the latter jaw element fromdisengaging the stud, resilient means operative upon the jaw and levercombination at a point near the point of pivotal connection of said jawand lever and urging the jaw and lever combination toward blockingposition of the lever and opening position of the jaw element to whichthe lever is pivoted, a detent on said supporting base member remotefrom said other jaw element and a projection on said lever adapted tocatch on the detent member when the lever is swung away from blockingposition against the influence of the resilient means, the lever beingthus held in a position where the blocking portion thereof is removedfrom contact with the non-locking arm of said other jaw element but thejaw element to which the lever is pivoted is still held in releasablecontact with the stud, the jaw elements being thus freed withoutopening.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11 in which the projection carriedby said lever is of limited extent longitudinally thereof whereby saidlever may be moved to displace said projection from the confines of saiddetent and thus permit full movement of the lever and first named jawelement to open position to release the stud.

13. A locking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted to come into locking engagement, said device comprising, incombination, a supporting base member; a pair of oppositely disposed jawelements pivotally mounted on said base member and having opposedlocking arms adapted to move toward each other to lock such a studtherebetween and opposed nonlocking arms arranged to move apart as saidlocking arms move toward each other; means tending normally to urge thelocking arms of the jaw elements apart toward stud-freeing positions; alever having a blocking portion, means for pivotally mounting said leverupon the non-locking arm of one of said jaw elements for movement in aplane parallel to the plane of movement of said jaw elements, said leverextending generally in a transverse direction toward the other of saidjaw elements and being pivotally movable to a blocking position in whichsaid blocking portion extends between said nonlocking arms and intowedging engagement with an integral part of the non-locking arm of theother of the jaw elements to prevent the locking arm of the latter jawelement from disengaging the stud; a tension spring also extendinggenerally transverse of the arrangement, one end of said spring securedto the lever at a point outwardly beyond its pivotal connection with thefirst named jaw element and the other end of the spring secured to thebase member, said spring thus having the effect of urgmg the non-lockingarm of the first named jaw element transversely and the jaw elementitself toward stud-releasing position, and at the same time urging saidlever pivotally toward blocking position with respect to the secondnamed jaw element, the lever thus being capable of swinging movementabout its pivotal connection with the first named jaw element and alsoof substantial 1ongitudinal movement upon pivotal movement of that jawelement; a detent on said supporting base member spaced from said otherjaw element in a direction substantially longitudinally of said jawelement and away from the stud, and a projection of limited longitudinalextent carried by said lever adapted to catch on the detent member whenthe lever is swung away from blocking position against the influence ofthe tension spring, the lever thus being held in a position where theblocking portion thereof is removed from contact with the non-lockingarm of said other jaw element but the jaw element to which 10 the leveris pivoted is still held in releasable contact with the stud, the jawelements being thus freed without opening, and whereby longitudinalmovement of the lever will release the projection from the detent andefiect the final opening movement of the first named jaw element fromabout the stud.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS KramerJuly 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 272,145 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1951

